Kota Kinabalu: The "shooting spree" that affected 46 business premises over a wide area here and in Penampang, last weekend, has jolted the confidence of the people.

Former Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee said the people are wondering if there is, indeed, a bigger threat to Sabah's security and the people's safety than what was claimed by the authorities.

Yong said the unconvincing police explanation that the shooting spree was the work "budak nakal" (naughty children) using air guns that shoot "guli" (marbles) only made the people more sceptical about the identity and motive of the shooters. "The sooner the police come up with coherent and clear information, such as the probable motives of the shooters, the easier it would be for the public to comprehend what is happening and for people to spot possible trouble makers and report to the police," said Yong in a statement, Wednesday.

The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President also pointed out that CCTV images of the attacks showed the alleged shooters as young adults, not teenagers.

"It is safe to conclude that the groups of shooters know their way driving around the city and had planned and executed the shootings in an organised fashion in a couple of hours and then disappeared.

"Is there a lapse in information gathering by CID, Special Branch, Rela, Civil Defence, JKKKs, JKDBs and other components of the local security network?" he asked.

He lamented that at the moment, the police are either not forthcoming with information or have no clue as to what is happening right under their noses in the State capital where the police top brass reside.

"It even took the police three days to clarify that the widely-circulated photos of two persons handcuffed sitting on the floor in a police facility as not that of the shooters in the city.

"As though it is not worrying enough that the police have had no fore knowledge of the shooting spree, the police seem at a loss even with the benefit of hindsight and after reviewing evidence gathered," Yong said.

He added it was equally worrisome when the Deputy IGP blamed Sabah's long coastline for the possible smuggling of air guns used in the shooting, indicating that the weapons were brought in from the Philippines.

"This amounts to a glaring admission that Sabah's borders are still not sufficiently secured by Esscom.

If air guns can be smuggled and used in Kota Kinabalu by organised gangs, then it follows that real guns and bullets can be similarly smuggled into Sabah," he said.